• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 09 November 2005

Moving on indeed to the response times themselves, I think that we have new indicators here, particularly in relation to the second fire engine. Previously we were monitoring this in terms of the percentage of incidents at which attendance times met national standards of fire cover, where London was performing less well than some of the other Metropolitan Authorities. I think we have now got two new indicators and on the second fire engine point, the target is to respond within eight minutes on 75% of occasions. That is the key one, I think I am right in saying, on...

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 09 November 2005

The related changes in the London Safety Plan around the location of the Command Support Unit and the Driver Training Centre ' are they also'

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 09 November 2005

Okay, if I can just take it in stages. In terms of the progress, and clearly there is time involved, but we are on course to get all 10 relocated by March 2006 as per the plan, I hope.

• Question by: Murad Qureshi
• Meeting date: 09 November 2005

It sounds as though it is a major constraint on the modernisation of the service. I am just wondering if you have done any lobbying with the relevant parties because it has always been the impression that I have had, with English Heritage certainly, that they have the listing without the financial responsibilities and it is something they need to be more receptive to.

• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 23 February 2005

Given your comments about diversity and the problems Southwark is in at the moment because of their neglect in some of these areas, are you saying that you are going to be asking the Planning Unit to take some special advice, or give some special advice on diversity issues within the context of this project?

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 23 February 2005

I was going to ask the Mayor whether he was aware that Lord Ousley was helping the council, because I certainly know that my colleagues there are not happy with the current culture of the council as a whole. The Mayor will be as familiar as the rest of us with the history in Southwark. In relation to this particular project, it has been hugely problematical. What can the Mayor actually do to help, because I do think there is some reality about this question of the skill sets within boroughs, not just Southwark but all boroughs? My own ward...

• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 23 February 2005

You have made some critical comments about Southwark this morning, although I do think by and large this has been a very positive, collaborative project. Are you satisfied that Southwark Council has both the professional capacity and the right approach to deliver this project the way it should be delivered, and if not, what would you bring into the pot that is additional?

• Question by: Jenny Jones
• Meeting date: 23 February 2005

There are three issues at the moment that I am particularly concerned about and I would like you to share my concern that these issues come up for you. The first is housing and the fact that there is only 30% affordable housing at the moment in the project. In a poor borough like Southwark that seems far too low, particularly in that sort of area where we want to see sustainable communities. What will happen is that families will be broken up and communities will be lost. The second is the issue of the black and ethnic minorities there...

• Question by: Mike Tuffrey
• Meeting date: 23 February 2005

Very quickly, I would certainly agree with the Mayor. The problem is the sub-regions all have different boundaries: the London Plan sub-regions, the health sub-regions, the skills sub-regions. Part of your leadership role might be to help nudge these sub-regions together so that boroughs can do this.

• Question by: Valerie Shawcross
• Meeting date: 23 February 2005

In fact, I have met the traders and shops last year and we had discussions with the LDA. There is a concern about the survival of the small local businesses through the development and a space for them in the development for the future. Broadly, I think everyone very much welcomes the Elephant and Castle regeneration project. It is going to be the key to the future of south London. One of the blockages at the moment is that the private developer partners need to be engaged in those discussions about the future. Southwark are just going to the market...